How does expanding our territory prove our dominance? If anything, all it proves is that we are a resource hungry species that needs to continue to ravage the land to survive. While other species may do the same thibng, it is different with us. Just as you said, we have a big brain. And yet, even though we know that we are killing not only ourselves, but other living creature and may do the same in the future, we continue to expand our species both in population and territory. That is what makes us inferior.

The great thing about a big brain is the capacity for learning. Humanity, like other species, expands into new territories and causes environmental damage, including the extinction of other species. However, unlike other species, we can learn.

Here in New Zealand, we are generating more and more reserves, sanctuaries, sheltered areas, and so on, to conserve nature and endangered species. Only humanity of all the animals on Earth, has ever even made such an attempt. Modern man is doing far more of this than our more primitive (by your terms, superior) ancestors. In NZ, the first people here, the stone age polynesian Maori, wiped out 36 species of native birds (that we know of) through overhunting, and through introducing rats. Europeans killed off a further 15 species, but are now conserving like crazy.

It is true that modern men are helping to repopulate animal species. This is truly amazing. But, we must not forget that we are the reasons that they are in this situation in the first place. And we continue to do so today. While it may not be as devastating as it was at the beginning of the 20th century, we are still killing thousands of animals due to pollution and overpopulation.

You are also right about all animals causing devastation to their surroundings. But, humans cause much more devastation and (today) know that they are doing it. Because of our huge population and the rapid growth of it, humanity requires the living space of other animals, often killing them in the process. While we may be able to prevent species from going extinct, we can never return them to their former population unless we disappear.

We learn but we don't do anything significant enough to make up for our mistakes. That is why we are inferior.

I disagree that we do nothing to make up for environmental mistakes. Here in New Zealand, we have done more harm to more species in a very short time than most places. Today, though, we are doing more to repair damage than most places.

I did not say our enviromental mistakes. That is only one of the long list of mistakes that humanity has made. Also, you cannot just use New Zealand as an example for the entire human race. While you may be repairing the damage done, in most places of the world, the damage continues. And even if people start to save more species, our increasing population will keep sending animals to extinction.

The human population has more than tripled in the last century alone and is expected to continue to grow. Even if we try to save species, our need of rmore resources will drive them to extinction. The average extinction rate is between 10 to 100 species(including bacteria, plants, and fungi) per year. But now, the average extinction rate is 27,000 species per year. So what if we save 4 or 5 species. That just means another 26,995 will become extinct.

Human population is currently 7 billion and is expected to reach 9 billion by 2050. After that, projections suggest it will stabilise or fall. So any added impact from increasing population will be small.

You quote 27,000 species per year going extinct. That is supposition. No-one actually knows. The species that go extinct that can be counted is about ten per year. Of course, the true figure is higher, because some species will quietly die off without anyone noticing. But to go from ten per year to 27,000 is, to me, a wild exaggeration. My private guess is 100 per year.

There are probably about 100 million species of eucaryotes in the world today, plus or minus a large error factor. If 100 per year go extinct, that is a rather small percentage of the total. Not that I say 100 is OK. No. And that is why we must strive to reduce or stop extinctions. But that is not an excuse to exaggerate them, either.

zachariah: first, I highly doubt, that any bacteria will extinct due to humanssecond, how can be humans poor, if their population is still rising? You obviously want just to argue and you do not even know, what about, but you still will.

JackBean wrote:zachariah: first, I highly doubt, that any bacteria will extinct due to humanssecond, how can be humans poor, if their population is still rising? You obviously want just to argue and you do not even know, what about, but you still will.

actually the poorer a civilization the more offspring the produce, the more kids one have the more chance one will survive to support the parents, the birth rate is lower in more well off areas!

Chill out JackBean, the guy Zacharia want some discussion, so he keep it alive by arguing :p

I agreewith Zenithar66, the poorer a society, the more offspring they produce, but I dont think they have enough vision to see one of their children support them, it just that they were lack of planning and knowledge on contraception for instance, well that what's happen in my country.

About the main topics, I dont believe that human is inferior...nor do I believe that human is superior.

It is relatives. When you see human youngster, that takes 1 or 2 year just to stand up straight and walk, while neonatus deer can stand up and walk in just less than a day...yes Sir we are inferior.

But concerning the technology, I think it is a part of human superiority. Because it is the result of our observation, learning, and thinking. And we wont be extinct if our technology disappear, as long as we have fire, water, plant, herbivores except for some jetset people that used to drink pasteurized milk everyday. (well i can cope with freshly burnt rabbit and boiled milk)

I consider human being superior because we can think and learn, and create (hey this is the word im trying to type ). We have one of the longest age as creature (turtle include groups that beat us in this) because we learn how to take care of ourselves, what to eat, what not to eat, we dont just eat scrambled thing in front of us.